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Warning Against Neglecting Salvation
2 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
The Founder of Salvation
For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. It has been testified somewhere,
“What is man, that you are mindful of him,
or the son of man, that you care for him?
You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
you have crowned him with glory and honor,
putting everything in subjection under his feet.”
Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying,
“I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”
And again,
“I will put my trust in him.”
And again,
“Behold, I and the children God has given me.”
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
(ESV)
Hebrews 2 Commentary
by Hank Workman
“We must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.”
Hebrews 2:1
The world is full of all kinds of spiritual teachings and thoughts. Sadly many of these have flowed within the faith. Due to the fact we want what we want, have desires we justify, we all too often will embrace these ideologies and twist them to fit our mindsets. And all too often they are in complete contrast to the Word of God, the ways of Jesus, the direction of the Holy Spirit.
One day I found myself sitting with a pastor/friend talking about some of these issues. His advice and instruction went right back to the Word. His admonition was to take the Bible, sit it down with these who have drifted from the Truth and say, “This is the Word of God. Does the current thought you are embracing line up with what’s in here?” Then he said to take each topic or line of teaching they’ve embraced and go back to the Word. “Is it in here? Does Jesus say this? Is this something the Word actually states as fact?” He ended this topic by saying sometimes we have to say, “I love you but you’re wrong. What you believe does not line up at all with the Word. You are embracing false teaching.”
Now, that all sounds dogmatic and pretty strong. But the point I took was so many of the current mindsets and teachings flooding Believers today is completely contrary to the actual Word of God. It goes against even who Jesus said He was and what He taught. There are far too many of these false teachings slipping into the church and even individual thoughts because it tickles our ears and speaks to our selfish desires. It’s dangerous ground.
As the writer of Hebrews states, we must pay closer attention to what we have heard. You see, it’s too easy for us to overlook and maybe become desensitized to the absolute glory of Jesus’ message. It’s not just hearing carefully but also doing what we’ve heard. Living it. Paying careful attention is hard work as it requires us to focus all aspects of our mind, heart, and will to His. As James wrote, “Prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” James 1:22. If we fail to actually carry out and live the instruction of God and Jesus, we will drift away.
Anyone who has been on a boat knows that if the anchor is not sunk low, the boat will drift. It’s a very subtle drifting as we have no idea that it’s taking place until we look up and realize we’re not in the place we had set anchor. Spiritual drifting is not some sudden departure but a slow drift.
Our anchors must be firmly sunk in Jesus Christ otherwise we will look up one day and find ourselves far from where we first believed.
Hebrews 2 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
For in bringing many sons to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God—all things exist for Him and through Him—should make the source of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Hebrews 2:10 HCSB
It was entirely appropriate for God to allow Jesus to suffer on our behalf. Of course, God could have willed a different method of Salvation. But the suffering of Jesus identified Him with us. His suffering was an example of His perfect obedience to His Father. His suffering also qualified Him as our Mediator, taking the wrath of God in the ultimate display of unconditional love that humanity has ever known.
What does it mean that Jesus was made perfect through sufferings? Wasn’t He already perfect?
“There is no contradiction between Christ’s eternal perfection as Son and his “being made perfect” in his vocation as the “Pioneer of our salvation.” Every part of the NT declares that the Son’s incarnation, death, resurrection, and ascension have equipped him to save. Note the words of the risen Christ in Mat 28:18, “All power has been given to me in heaven and on earth.” When thus perfected, the Son fulfilled what he had always been as the “radiance of God’s glory.””
New International Commentary – Old Testament
Some people still believe that Satan was the one who controlled Jesus’ death. But Scripture tells us otherwise. In John 10, Jesus says, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the Devil— 15 and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.
Hebrews 2:14-15 HCSB
Satan is the great accuser. Legally speaking, his only victory is found in condemning humanity for their sin. However, since Jesus was sinless, Satan had no rights over Him. On the other hand, we know Satan worked behind the scenes to perpetuate Jesus’ death. He certainly wanted Jesus to die. In this way, he stands guilty (among many other sins) of attempted murder on God’s Son. But through Jesus’ sacrifice, He not only claimed His victory over Satan, He also won our victory by destroying the one who held the power of sin and death.
What an amazing truth!